Highland County Firefighters Association hosts 2024 Festival of the Bells parade

The Highland County Firefighters Association hosted the 2024 Festival of the Bells parade Saturday, July 6 in uptown Hillsboro.

The theme of this year’s parade was “Small Town American Dream,” with numerous fire and life squad vehicles among those participating, as well as the Festival of the Bells committee and queens court.

The parade, which was emceed by Brian Vance and Alex Butler, traveled from West Main Street to the center of town, then down West Walnut Street and Oak Street before returning back to West Main Street.

Entrants included:

• Highland County Sheriff Randy Sanders;

• Sgt. Donald Rack of the Ohio State Highway Patrol;

• 2024 Festival of the Bells Queen Kensley Mathias, sponsored by K&S Custom Tees, and her court: first runner-up Kora McCarty, second runner-up Kathryn Ogden and third runner-up Jenna Canada;

• Members of the Festival of the Bells committee;

• Paint Creek Joint EMS/Fire District Quint 231, driven by Robbie Miller with wife Kaylee and son Wade; Tanker 214; Squad 223; Squad 224; and Gator 23;

• A 1960 Ford L-800 originally from Beach City and retired in 1990, owned by Greg and Tracy Wehrum of Mount Orab;

• Clinton-Highland Joint Fire District Engine 16 (Michael, Kelly and Kalhi Sowards);

• Highland North Joint Fire and Ambulance District’s newest apparatus, a 2024 Freightliner tanker/pumper that carries 3,000 gallons of water, as well as a 2021 Ford F-550 Ambulance (Squad 324);

• Lynchburg Joint Fire and Ambulance District’s Squad 441, driven by Chief Jeff Turner; Tanker 412, driven by Logan Moberly; and Engine 407, driven by JD Moberly;

• Southern Highland Joint Fire and EMS’s Jeep Brush Truck (Unit 548);

• Highland County Emergency Management Agency Director David Bushelman;

• Eastern Joint Fire and EMS District’s Tower 35, driven by Travis Picklesimer, and Brush 35, driven by Tony Phillips;

• Brushcreek Fire Department’s Tanker 615, driven by Chief Bryan Hatten; Engine 601, driven by Lieutenant Cody Egner; and Heavy Rescue 631, driven by Assistant Chief Nathan Tuck;

• CWR Towing and Repair of Marathon, driven by Curtis and Duke Hardesty;

• Salem/Morrow Fire Department Tanker 71 from Warren County;

• Grant Edenfield Trucking’s 2025 Peterbilt 589, driven by Rob Jackson;” 2021 Peterbilt 389, driven by David Hall; 2015 Kenworth W-900, driven by Frankie Laws; and 2013 Kenworth W-900L, driven by Ben Starkey with Brayden and Landon; and

• FRS Transportation of Adams, Brown and Highland counties.

Fun activities are continuing throughout the day at the festival, with concerts rounding out the activities Saturday night. Country artist Lecade will perform at 7:30 p.m., followed by the annual auction at 8:15 p.m. before headliner Tyler Braden sings at 9 p.m.

For schedule changes and other updates, follow https://www.facebook.com/festivalofthebells.

For story and photos from Thursday, go to: https://highlandcountypress.com/news/riley-clemmons-rings-2024-festival….

For story and photos from Friday, go to: https://highlandcountypress.com/news/shane-profitt-concert-among-highli….

For more photos from Saturday, go to: https://highlandcountypress.com/news/scenes-2024-festival-bells-pet-par…

https://highlandcountypress.com/sports-hillsboro/3-3-basketball-tournam…

https://highlandcountypress.com/news/scenes-2024-festival-bells-baby-pa…

And

https://highlandcountypress.com/news/record-setting-car-show-held-2024-….
 

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